What does joky mean?
Joky describes speech, behaviour, or an occasion that is intended to be amusing rather than serious. It often suggests playful teasing, comic exaggeration, or a lack of solemnity, and the word can carry a faintly dismissive note when someone’s humour is not appreciated. Typical uses include “a joky remark,” “a joky comment,” and, especially in Britain, “a joky jumper,” referring to a garment with a humorous design. Although joky is used in both British and American English, jokey is more common in North America. Jokiness and jokily are also established derivatives, with the former denoting the quality of being joky and the latter describing an action performed in a joking manner. The word is useful for distinguishing humour that is overtly playful or facetious from language intended to communicate serious information.
adjectiveMaking jokes or intended to be amusing; facetious or playful in a lighthearted way.
- Characterized by joking or intended to amuse; facetious.
"His joky reply to a serious question made everyone laugh."
"The host kept the awards ceremony joky and lighthearted."
"She gave him a joky warning not to be late again."
If your attempt at humour falls flat, you may have been joky rather than funny.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does joky come from?
The word is English in formation, combining joke with the suffix -y. Its relatives jocular, jocularity, and jocose come through French from Latin forms associated with joculus, a word meaning “little joke” or “playfulness.” These relatives preserve the same broader idea of jesting, amusement, and playfulness.
Related word forms
How joky is actually used
Informal and sometimes mildly dismissive, especially when used to describe a remark that is not taken seriously. The form is more common in British English, although it is understood elsewhere.
Easily confused with joky
Joky is chiefly British, whereas jokey is the more common form in American English and is also widely understood in Britain.